This is my audition for Writers Award Contest 2013.
I was a sweet, care-free, innocent 4th year when I met him. He was a tall, hazel-eyed, messy-haired 5th year. He was confident, rebellious, but also kind. We met at my caravan site in the summer of 2009. He was hanging up his family's laundry on the caravan's laundry line, and I was taking my laundry down. I was immediately drawn to his smile, him even managing to beam while putting up laundry on a cloudy day. He said hello as I hurriedly walked passed him. I knew if I caught his eye, I would madly blush.
'Hi', I mumbled. Too late, I was already blushing. He touched my arm, so I had to face him. I blushed more. He looked into my eyes, and as much as I tried to look away, I just couldn't.
'So where does a beautiful young lady like you come from then?' He enquired.
'I, um, Devon', I stammered.
'Of course you do. You've got that gorgeous southern glow about you', he teased. I blushed more, if that was even possible.
'Has anyone ever told you that you're so cute when you blush?! Anthony, by the way'. He laughed as I somehow succeeded in blushing even harder.
'What? Anthony?' I mumbled, cringing once the words were out.
'My name. Sorry if my ravishing good looks are blinding you', he teased.
'Oh, erm, Lana. My name. And,erm, I think you really need a sit down with your ego', I managed, smirking slightly.
'Do I now?' He whispered in my ear. I shuddered. I couldn't decide which would be best: run away while I still could, or kiss him passionately. Only I didn't have the chance to make a decision because he walked away.
'Same time tomorrow?' He called. But I didn't reply. How could I? Because I know that if I did, I would only make a fool out of myself by telling him he's all I've ever wanted, that already he takes my breath away, that I would rather die than not come tomorrow. I couldn't tell him that! At least not yet. Some of it not ever.
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The next day I met Ant-as he assured me I was to refer to him as- at the same time as he requested. This time I felt I was ready to actually speak to him. In fact, I was almost confident!
He was there, waiting for me. This time his laundry basket was empty. It had been raining overnight so his laundry wouldn't be dry.
'Is there really any point in taking them down?' I chuckled. 'Had to have some sort of excuse for seeing you, didn't I? Looking stunning today, may I add?!' Suddenly all my confidence was gone. Like my breath. I was falling for him, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. It made it all the worse knowing that it could only ever be a summer romance. If he even liked me that way. Which he couldn't. I mean, yeah he seemed to be flirting with me, but he seemed to be the flirty type of guy. And even if he was actually flirting with me, why would he ever fancy me? I wasn't anything special. I was an average sized girl, in terms of both height and weight. I had dull grey eyes and straight mouse-brown hair. And I wasn't even very curvy. I was pretty boring when it came down to it.
Nevertheless I was flattered he even noticed me.
'Lana? Did you even hear what I was saying?' I started blushing. Geez, this was beginning to feel like a pattern. Ant enters, Lana feels confident. Ant speaks, Lana starts blushing.
'Oh, s-sorry. What were you saying there?'
'I was just saying how much you look like Keira Knightley. And how much my mum wants you to come to the caravan tonight for dinner. She's heard all about you and seems to be as entranced by you as I am. Please come over. It would make my year. Please.'
It was only polite to. 'Yes, I'm sure I could do that,' I beamed. I wasn't sure if my Auntie Katerina would let me but I sure would try to go.
'Well, Lana, what do you say to 6:30, caravan 57?' He seemed so joyous, so filled with wonder that I couldn't help but nod. And there was just something about that moment, something about the look in his eyes-call me cliché, but I think it was the look of love- or maybe it was the way my stomach was flipping madly, but I stretched up on my tiptoes and kissed him. Yes, it was only a peck on the cheek. But it felt like so much more.
This time it was me who walked away. But not before I looked to see him ecstatic. And I had thought that his smile was the most beautiful thing in the world. But then I discovered his cheeky grin was. And I promised myself that I would do everything in my power to see that grin for as long as I lived.
